Tahltan Bear Dogs — a Breed Living on the Brink of Extinction

Tahltan Bear Dogs were a primitive spitz-type breed. The females only came into breeding heat once a year, like wild canines, whilst most domestic dogs have two heats per year. The original Tahltan Bear Dog had a short, dense, harsh coat, large erect ears and a foxy face. Its tail was six to seven inches long, standing straight up with the hair fanned out like a brush. Longer tails may have been docked to achieve the correct length.

They averaged 14 to 17 inches tall. Most dogs were black, often with white markings, but some were steel gray. White dogs with black or gray spots were less desirable, and those with long coats are believed to be crossbred with other types.

The most famous Tahltan was Stickeen, the hero of a book of the same name written by California naturalist John Muir, who travelled extensively in Canada's northwest.

The Tahltan became quite well known in the 1930s and was added to the list of Canadian Kennel Club recognized breeds in 1939 or 1941. Unfortunately, the breed never caught on with outsiders, possibly due to stories that Tahltan Dogs always died when taken south. Such deaths likely resulted from diseases of domestic dogs to which this northern breed had no immunity.

By the mid-1970s, purebred Tahltans had almost disappeared in Canada. A few were found, but all already had been spayed or neutered, and no breeding stock was available. With no new registrations and the breed nearing extinction, the C.K.C. removed the dog from the Sporting Group in 1974.